Sarinah pulled the blanket she had bought closer around her shoulders, sitting close to her small campfire. It was still quite cool at night, and although she had her bedding and a warm fire, part of her felt chilled. She had set up a small camp in a little clearing just left of the road from Vienda to Dorhaven, after riding her horse all after noon, she had just had to stop because she couldn't see in front of them anymore. Although she was armed and more than capable of defending herself, it was still a little frightening to be alone in the woods.

Eating the last of the travel biscuit she had been chewing on, she pulled her fur sleeping cover closer to the fire and lay down, covering herself with the blanket. Her horse was tied to a tree just within the range of the fire light and she felt that if something did come, it would scare the horse and alert her. She took the saber out of its sheath and lay it in front of her, hand on the hilt. Laying quietly, she watched the fire crackling, hoping morning would come quickly.

Sarinah jumped, gripping the saber. She hadn't expected voices to yell out from the darkness and it startled her. She recognized the phrase almost immediately, but it was still unsettling. Throwing back the blanket, she stood up, holding the saber pointed down in one hand,ready to strike if she needed to, and the sheath in the other.

Two figures became illuminated in the firelight as they approached, and within seconds Sarinah released the breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

"Rovin! Vrunta! You startled me!" She said shakily, putting the saber in its sheath and throwing it at her feet. Running her hands through her hair to get it out of her face, she half smiled. The man and his bander were a sight most welcome.

"But I'll admit, its very good to see you. This traveling business can do your head in at night." She laughed a little nervously, feeling incredibly foolish for reacting like a frightened boch. But truth be told, it was down right creepy on your own in the unfamiliar darkness.

Sarinah sat down beside the man and gestured to Wraith with her chin. The bander seemed to have so much character, she was sure it understood what they were saying.

"Is that why you got him? To keep you sane?." Staring at the fire, she watched Rovin poke it with a stick. She had never had to set up a hearth of her own, and she wondered if she had done it right.

"Yes, I'm going home. I need to see whether I'm going to be one of the only Yellow Eye left in Vita." Tears stung her eyes and she shook her head. The stories she had heard before leaving Vienda were awful. A lot of people had lost family and friends and the town seemed to be grieving as a whole. If she came across a galdor in Dorhaven she was going to kill them on sight. And eye for an eye. She looked at Rovin.

"Do you have family in Dorhaven?"

She smiled down at him, marveling at how deep this man really went. At first he seemed so aloof, but once he started talking he came out with the most intersting things.

"Brave? Your too kind. I wasn't really thinking. I heard about Dorhaven and just left. Your words the other night helped, I think. Gave me the courage to do it." She shook her head.

"I don't think I'd call it brave though. Stupid maybe? Cook is going to have an absolute fit." A soft chuckle escaped her lips. She stretched out, leaned back on her elbow and rest her head on her hand. Smirking at him, she reached over to poke him in the rib.

"I'm glad your here. I don't think I can handle Dorhaven alone right now. I need a friend, I don't have many of those. The new blacksmith seems nice, but he couldn't come with me."

He just shrugged. Rovin really wasn't used to people telling him these things... but then again, he wasn't used to telling Sarinah the things he had been. He'd been so internalized for so long, that it felt rather good to let this all out to a beautiful woman, without the help of alcohol to loosen his tongue. He gave her a look that was welcoming, but it didn't seem to make his ego inflate much at all.



"Then 'e can deal with th'loss t'his profits for a bit, can't 'e?" Martin said, grinning, and caught her finger in his hand as she poked him. He was used to children's tag games, but he lightly held her finger there, not really to the point where if she wanted it back she couldn't have it, but still, playfully, he had her.



Still holding onto her single finger, Rov nodded, almost as if he'd forgotten about it. "No'everyone can jus'pick up'n leave like us." He said, that deepening tone falling into his voice, "Most people're still stuck to th'rat race."

He smiled over to her though, patting the back of her hand with his free one, "Nice t'have a friend that can talk back. Looks aside!" Rovin chuckled, without the slightest hint of blush to him. Wraith seemed to notice he was being talked about, and strode over, curling up on the other side of Sarinah, and making himself comfortable, wrapping himself into a little ball.

The dancer smiled as the bander came over. He was really a beautiful creature. Turning back to Rovin, she looked down at his hand holding her finger. Pulling her finger out gently, she rolled his hand over to expose his palm, stroking it softly, running her fingers along the cuff of his sleeve.

"So, is that all you think of me Rovin Martin? Someone who can just talk back to you?" She said teasingly, raising an eyebrow, looking through a lock of fallen hair, sly smile on her lips.

Sarinah watched the man, he looked so far away for a moment. For a moment she wondered if she had said something wrong and cursed herself and her lifestyle. It became all to easy to turn a simple conversation into something flirtatious, it was what she did. But with Rovin it was different. She meant it. His eyes focused again and she watched them rove her curves.



She blushed and smiled at him. He made her feel like a person, not just a dancer in a brothel, but like she was worth something. It confused her. The professional in her knew how to make him know she was thankful, but the woman in her wanted to show him she was what he believed. That she could be more than just Cook's girl.

She moved, laying flat resting her hands on her stomach. The sky was so clear out here, it was a surprise. Perhaps it had something to do with the lack of lights. Turning her face to Wraith, she smiled at the bander's expression. She could have sworn he was grinning. Sighing, she turned back to Rovin.

"Are you cold?" She gestured the blanket she was half laying on. If Rovin was going to stay with her till morning, did he have his own bedding?

"You can share mine if you want, nothing intended." She held up a hand and giggled.

"I just mean, you can sleep beside me if you don't have your own bedding. But you have to keep your hands to yourself." She said softly, wishing for the complete opposite. But she tried to keep the thought from her words. If Rovin wanted to respect her as a friend and a woman, then she would do the same. Even if it went against everything she felt about him.

Sarinah grinned at him, his voice had taken on a whole new tone, but his sly smile stayed. Her heart stepped up a pace, and she watched him carefully.



The brunette let out a little shriek, caught completely by surprise. She hadn't expected it at all, reaching out to catch her skirt so it still covered her thighs. Part of her panicked a little. Was it all a facade and she was about to experience something all women dread? She still had her weapons though, but she remembered when he picked her up at the caoja. He had a thing for surprising her.

And then...



The feeling was quite like nothing she had experienced before. His firm hands pressed deeply into the soles of her feet, and it felt amazing. She lent back on her elbows and closed her eyes, relishing in the sensation. Every morning after work she would sit at home and rub her feet, but this was a different feeling. It was so much better. She shuddered deliciously and let her head drop back.

"Oh, Rovin, that is good!" She said, lifting her head to look at his grinning face. Her own lips turned into a smile.

"Your just full of surprises balach. I never know what to expect with you. And just when I think you don't find me attractive, you turn the other hand and, well, sweep my feet out from under me." She wiggled her toes, cocking her head to one side, watching him.

Sarinah nodded, listening, but completely wrapped up in what he was doing to her feet. She watched him work, his knowing hands finding all the sore places. A little thrill went up her spine when he looked at her, it was just briefly, but enough to make her shudder again.

"Yes, your right." She mumbled slightly.

"The world is changing though balach, can you feel it?" Turning her head to watch the fire, she marveled at how surreal this all felt. She wondered if she had in fact fallen asleep at it was all a dream. Looking down at the man by her feet, she hoped it wasn't. It was starting to get late, and she knew they would be leaving as soon as the sky started getting light.

Laying back down, she sighed, watching the firelight catch Rovin's features in a warm orange glow. Something about him stirred a feeling in her, which made her heart beat like a drum and her stomach flutter. It felt nice.

Sarinah watched him settle down for the night and did the same, covering herself with the blanket she had been gaining so much comfort from before. Closing her eyes, she wondered with a little twinge of fear just how bad Dorhaven was going to be.

But at least now she had someone there with her.